CITIZENSHIP STRAND V:
DEMOCRATIC PROCESSES
Items in the Democratic Processes strand assess the student’s understanding of the functions and activities of the national government’s three branches as well as key characteristics of American democracy. The items will also address the different types of government that exist throughout the world.
16. Identify the main functions of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the United States national government and cite activities related to these functions.
This learning outcome focuses on the relationship between the activities and functions of branches of the national government. The main function of the legislative branch is to make laws. Items addressing this outcome could use other expressions such as federal legislature or Congress as well as legislative branch. The primary function of the executive branch is to enforce the laws. Items could use other terms such as President or executive agencies as well as executive branch. The primary functions of the judicial branch are to interpret the meaning of the laws and to apply the laws in specific cases. Items could use other expressions such as federal courts or federal court system as well as judicial branch.
There are many activities related to the main functions of the branches of government. Some of these activities include:
- legislative branch - writing proposed legislation and holding committee hearings;
- executive branch - appointing officials and coordinating work of agencies; and
- judicial branch - conducting trials and sentencing convicted persons.
Test items could ask students to identify a main function of a branch of the federal government. Students could be asked to investigate descriptions of activities and identify the branch involved or link the activities with a main function of the branch. Students could also be asked to describe the functions of the branches and to provide examples of related activities.
17. Interpret how examples of political activity illustrate characteristics of American democracy.
Democracy, as practiced in the United States of America, has certain key characteristics. These characteristics include:
- the people serve as the source of the government’s authority;
- all citizens have the right and responsibility to vote and influence the decisions of the government;
- the people run the government directly or through elected representatives;
- the powers of government are limited by law; and
- all people have basic rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution.
Items for this outcome will require students to examine applications of these characteristics of American democracy. Students could be presented with an example of a political activity and asked what characteristic of American democracy is being illustrated. They could also be asked to explain how information that is presented relates to the characteristics of American democracy.
18. Classify characteristics of government that are typical of a monarchal, democratic, or dictatorial type of government.
A monarchal type of government is headed by a single leader (a king or a queen) whose title is usually hereditary. A democratic type of government is one in which the people hold the power to govern and the rights of the people are guaranteed by law. A dictatorial type of government is headed by one person or a small group of persons holding total power with little responsibility to the people. Power is usually acquired by force or through an election in which the people have no choice.
Students could be asked to examine a description of a government and to classify the type of government described. Students could also be asked to identify types of government and to illustrate each type by indicating appropriate characteristics.
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